Topic: growing-things

Last week, I brought you basil recipes to help you take advantage of abundant summer crops. But many of our Facebook fans balked; basil is a tricky herb to grow. Unlike some herbs (I’m looking at you, rosemary), it’s easy to start from seed. But keeping it alive? Oof. Not so simple. I bought a tall, lovely basil plant about two weeks ago—you were right: this week, it’s dropping leaves faster than the temperature is rising, and what’s left is quickly becoming flecked with holes and brown spots. So what gives? I asked gardening guru Kimberly Sevilla (co-owner of Brooklyn’s Rose Red & Lavender floral and garden shop) for advice. More »